There were two $111,487 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) contested on Saturday evening, Aug. 31 at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Three-year-old colt and gelding trotters took center stage at the Spa and Sir Pinocchio was the star of the show.
The Ed Hart-trained sophomore is in the midst of a sensational season and came into Saturday’s try with six wins and four seconds in 11 starts and more than half a million dollars in earnings in 2024. Jason Bartlett is the regular driver for Sir Pinocchio, who drew post five in his five-horse division.
The gelding surged out to the early lead and cruised unopposed for the majority of the mile in his division and had plenty left in the stretch to draw away for a victory of close to four lengths. Sir Pinocchio stopped the timer in 1:55.1 over a track labelled ‘sloppy.’ Favourite Wild Ticket (Brett Beckwith) finished second with Keep Asking (Tyler Buter) well back in third.
Sir Pinocchio paid $4.50 to win as the race’s second choice in the wagering.
An Excelsior Series champion as a freshman, Sir Pinocchio now has four NYSS victories under his belt this year to go along with his Dexter Cup and MGM Yonkers Trot stakes triumphs. The homebred son of Mets Hall out of Lady Cromwell is owned by Carolyn Atherton of Scarsdale, New York.
The other division of the NYSS went the way of Mister Mellby, who sprung the upset with Tyler Buter driving for trainer Ake Svanstedt.
Mister Mellby utilized his early speed to secure an easy lead into the first turn and maintained that lead throughout before clocking a 1:56.1 victory to pull off the upset at odds of 9-1 in the five-horse Sire Stakes event. The Chapter Seven-Personal Paradise colt held off Super Duper Cooper (Wally Hennessey) by half a length, with Victor Laszlo (Mark MacDonald) two lengths back in third. The favoured Fly By (Jason Bartlett) was a non-factor when he broke stride early on.
Mister Mellby earned his second win in eight tries this year after going winless in three starts as a freshman. The first-time stakes winner is owned by Mellby Gard Inc. of Delray Beach, Florida. He returned $20 for a $2 win ticket.
Live harness racing resumes on Saturday, Sept. 7 with a first post time of 5 p.m. There will be a Pick 5 carryover of $1,242 beginning in the evening’s first race.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)